This summer I sold my first novel, a thriller set in New York City, where I've lived for ten years. I knew New York. In New York, I could write a murder scene (or two). But my second novel was a stand-alone thriller set in Los Angeles, and I knew I needed to do some research. And by "research," I mean "scout out bars, restaurants, and hotels that the protagonist would frequent (she's a lot cooler than I am, by the way). So I grabbed my friend Elizabeth, who is also considerably cooler than I am, and flew to West Hollywood, LA over the weekend to do the difficult and time-consuming task of visiting old and new WeHo hot spots in the name of "research." So without further ado, here is our guide to LA West Hollywood.

For laid-back luxury with modern art, friendly bartenders, kombucha on tap, and a cool, relaxed energy, we loved the Kimpton La Peer Hotel. The dangerous combination of the daily wine happy hour in the lobby and the always-warm and welcoming staff made Elizabeth and I feel like sugar-fed five-year-olds, hopping all over the hotel to cheerfully greet our new friends. We spent every night sipping cocktails on the big couch, Instagramming by the pool, and eating the best french fries I've ever had at the bar.

We especially loved two unique features of Kimpton La Pia: the GBK Brand Bar, an upscale concept store adjacent to the lobby that regularly offers gift bags for A-list events. And The Drawing Room, the hotel's gallery and studio space, is hosted by resident artist James Peter Henry and his objectively perfect poodle, Charlie. By the third day of our trip, we were visiting multiple times a day (to Henry's credit, he spared no time at any given moment, even when we came to say goodnight to Charlie, twice).

After Kimpton, we visited Sunset Boulevard and its upscale and luxurious West Hollywood EDITION. It boasts a world-class rooftop with a pool, an Instagram-worthy fire pit and bar, and the ARDOR restaurant, all artistically designed and perfectly lit.

When Elizabeth and I weren't fawning over the Edition's plush beds and rainforest shower (which is bigger than my entire New York bathroom), we were downstairs at ARDOR cooking up gorgeous cocktails and vegetable-centric dishes.

Speaking of healthy (but delicious) food.

At the top of our WeHo restaurant list was Strings of Life, a relaxed, Melbourne-style brunch spot. Hidden away on Melrose Avenue, Strings of Life is the perfect spot for a little people-watching and an incredible array of dishes. Fried roasted salmon, cacio e pepe fries, and a freshly made Impossible sausage roll that I devoured in five seconds. Afterwards, we drank exhausting tea and coffee and talked about how we probably shouldn't return to Strings of Life every day, since the purpose of this trip is, in theory, to research something new.

Next we visited The Butcher's Daughter, which is hardly a novel opinion, but did I mention how good LA is at making vegetables taste good? Plus, The Butcher's Daughter is tucked cutely at the end of Melrose Avenue, making it the perfect place to stop by for a lazy afternoon in the sun. (In November. I'm not going back to New York. )

Finally, following the croissants, coffee, and kombucha we bought in the Kimpton lobby, our breakfast stop was Dayglow, a cozy, vintage-style coffee house that also offers subscription coffee service Dayglow is famous for its coffee, Elizabeth and I became obsessed with the store's vegan donuts and protein bites.

Considered one of the best hiking trails in LA, the Runyon Canyon Trail is located in the Hollywood Hills, a short cab ride from West Hollywood. less than 3 miles long, this trail met all our requirements. It's not too strenuous (me), but enough to satisfy a seasoned hiker (Elizabeth) and boasts breathtaking views of LA.

One of the best things about this hike is that it is extremely dog-friendly. This means that if you hike on a gorgeous Saturday like we did, you are destined to come across dozens of excellent dogs. One of them even took pity on me during a particularly difficult moment.

(I should point out here that this is not a particularly difficult hike, so don't let the pictures scare you off. I'm just not particularly coordinated.)

Other must-sees in West Hollywood: The Comedy Store, Book Soup, Troubadour, Pacific Design Center, Abbey, and also the Stardogs Clubhouse, a I also liked the adorable dog "clubhouse." At this clubhouse, you can leave your dog for the day and spend quality time with the above mentioned treatments (hydro massage, balance gym, puzzle toys, etc.).